Continuous chlorination of ligno- and pecto-cellulose by nascent chlorine for the purpose of obtaining pure cellulose



?atented July ll, 1924..

ANTQINE REG-NOUF DE VAINS, OF MIRIBEL, AIN, ECE.

CONTINUOUS CHLOWATION F LIGNO- AND IPECTO-CELLUIJDSE BY NASCENT GHLORINE FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING PURE CELLULOSE.

No Drawing.

To al l whom it may concern:.

. .ing EPure Cellulose, of which the following radicals so as .to chlorinate them, therebyis a specification.

U. S. Patent No. 1,106,994 dated August 11th 1914 relates to the chlorination of lignoand pecto-cellulose by means of hydrochlorate.

The same reaction can be efiected by nascent chlorine and this feature forms the subject of the present invention.

According to the present invention, chlorination is effected by mixing with the pulp a small quantity. of hydrochloric acid and by distributing a solution of any known hypochlorite through said 'acidulated pulp. The form of the reaction is as follows; taking as prototype the application of calcium hypochlorite and h drochloric acid, for instance: CaOCI +2 Cl=CaCl,,+2Cl+H,O.

The chlorine acts in thenascent state and combines with the ketones or other organic forming hydrochloric acid which re-enters the cycle of the reaction.

When carrying out the invention, the cellulosic semi-pulp, diluted in water at any desired density is sent in a continuous stream Application filed December 11, 1922. Serial No. 608,293.

into a closed mixin device. Dilute hydrochloric acid and alkali metal hypochlorite, or hypochlorite of the alkaline earths, also in solution, are then introduced by the same nozzle as is utilized for the introduction of the pulp into the apparatus. The pulp and the reagents entering continuously into the chlorinating apparatus act one upon the other in accordance with the formula explained above and produce, on the one hand, products which. are cellulosic and'chlorinated, or more or less oxidized by the action of the nascent chlorine, and on the other hand, the corresponding metallic chloride.

The present invention consists in causing the chlorine to act in the nascent state, however it may have been obtained. In articular the nascent chlorine may be obtained b the reaction of an alkali metal hypoch lorite or of a hypochlorite of the alkaline earths upon a mineral or organic acid capable of separating chlorine from its compounds. The term alkali metal hypochlorite used in the claim is intended to 

